Bridge and bridge-iron



A. GOT'TLIEB. Bridge and Bridge Iro'n. No.. 230,185. Patented July 20,1880.A

n l V .FETERS. PNOTO-LITNOGRAPHEH.-WASHINGTON. D. c.

NrTnD STATES ABRAHAM GOTTLIEB, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

BRIDGE AND BRIDGE-IRON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 230,185,'dated July 20, 1880.

Application tiled January 24, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ABRAHAM GOTTLIEB, of Pittsburg, county of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered a new and useful Improvement in Bridges and Bridge-Irons; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, concise, and exact description thereof, reference being' had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this speciiication, in which-like letters indicating like parts- Figure l is a deched view, in perspective, oi' so much of the parts of a bridge-post, Hoorbeam, lower chord, and other connection for a panel-joint of a through-bridge asare necessary to illustrate one form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the floor-beams, and transverse thereto, and showing from the inside the panel-post and connections in elevation. Fig. 3 is a transverse horizontal sectional plan view through the web of the vlicor-beam at theleft-hand end and through the post above the level of the iioor-beam at the right-hand end. Fig. 4: is a detached View, in perspective, showing portions of the upper end of the panel-post, the upper chord, and other panel-post connections. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation ot' the same as formed by a plane passing in a direction transverse to the length ofthe bridge a little to one side of the post, and Fig. 6 is a top or plan view of the same.

My invention relates to an improved construction ot' bridge and bridge-iron, and may be applied either to a through-bridge-that is, one in which the the roadway is down at or near the level ot' the lower chord, or to a deckbridgethat is, one in which the roadway is up at or near the level of the upper chord.

For convenience of illustration I have shown the improvements embodied in my invention as applied more particularly to a throughbridge, but will so far explain its other application as to enable skilled mechanics to construct the same.

The particular object I have in View is to provide an improved means of suspending or supporting the Aweight of the load which the bridge must carry at or i'rom a point midway, or practically midway, between the diagonal main ties, so that such weight will be equally,

or nearly equally, distributed thereon 5 and in so far as relates to the improved bridge-iron herein described, while I have shown the same as incorporated into the structure of a chord and a post, it may also be applied with useful result in any or all ot' t-he compression members of truss-bridges, and, in fact, in architectural structures generally.

Referring, first, to Figs. l, 3, the panel-post represented has in its structure two channelbars, A, each of aform which I believe to be new. In addition to the usual edge-flanges, which constitute them channel-bars proper, they have each a flange or rib, a, which extends lengthwise ot' the bar on its back or rear side, and at or about midway between its edges, and of such form (by preference) as to admit of the riveting thereto of a plate, b, or other suitable desired connection. This iiange, which I shall term herein a back iiange, is made in the rolling of the bar at the same time with the other two or front flan ges and by substantially like means, with such modifications as are known to those skilled in the art. In this case the plate b terminates at such point at its lower end as to make provision for the insertion of the usual chord-pin p.

The bars A, through which the chord-pin passes, extend far enough below the same to give the desired strength at that point and upward to the desired height for connection with the upper chords, as shown in Fig. 4, and they may be strengthened by plates. riveted in the channel.v The usual lower chords, B, are connected with the chord-pin in the usual way. The usual main diagonals or ties B are also made from the chord-pins outside the posts to the upper chord-pins, as illustrated in Fig. 4; and the additional diagonal or counter-tie B2, running in a reverse direction from at or near the middle ofthe chord-pin, may be added, if so desired.

In order, now, to provide means for suspending the ends of the floor-beams so that the strain of the weight or load shall come in a plane at or about midway between the main ties B B, which are on opposite sides of .the post, I make the connection of the floor-beam with the post substantially as follows: To each front flange of thebars A, I rivet a bar, c, of about the width ofthe flange, and extend IOO the same down far enough for the giving of a good and strong means of support to the plates (l, which, in turn, extend down i'ar enough for giving in secure form the connections presently to be described. These two plates C, at or toward their lower ends, I connect together by means of an'I-beam, c', which is riveted to the plates C, as shown in Figs. l and 2; but as it is more convenient to manufacture such I-beams ofthe same width as the channel-bars A, I iind it better to do so, and insert lling pieces or strips c2 between the heads of the I- beam and the plates C. The I-beam c', it should be stated, is thus' secured to the plates C in a plane at or nearly midway between the vertical cha-nnel-bars A,'and as this I-beam gives the means of connection from the post with the floor-beam, the suspension-point oi' the latter is thereby brought midway between the main ties B', and to make such connection I rivet two angle-irons, c c, tothe inside face of the web of the I-beam c', and with their projecting ilanges at such distance apart as properly to receive and be riveted to the end ofthe web D of the licor-beam, the latter being made up of the web D and top and bottom angle-irons, D', of the desired size, form, and strength, with such additional elements as may be desired. The angle-irons c e are, by preference, as long as the web D is wide, so as to give a strong and secure connection, and the line or plane of suspension, support, and strain being in the plane of the middle of the chord-pin, or practically so, the same will be equally divided, or nearly so, between the inner and outer main ties, B', and the same facts will be also true of the upper chord-pin and post, -as will presently appear in connection with the description of Figs. 4, 5, and (i.

It is an important element of utility in the connection ofthe floor-beams with the posts, as thus described, that the permanence or perfection ot'none of them is dependent on the use of nuts or other detachable fastenings.

'Ille facility with which nuts work loose and the ease with which they can be loosened by malicious persons, and the danger thus re'- sultin g from carelessness or malice are so great to both life and property as to enhance materially the value of a construction from which such elements of dan ger are wholly eliminated.

VVrought-iron lateral angle-blocks m, and lateral tie rods m', with or without other known appliances, may bc added, if desired, as also vertical angle-iron stiening-bars m2.

In making the connection described, I do not limit myself to exact identity of form in every case, but include herein as elements of such connection known forms which will give a like result-as, for example, angle-irons and channel-bars of the ordinary form may take the place of the filling-bars c and plates C.

Referrin g, now, to Figs. 4, 6, A represents the upper end oi'the'same channel-bars ofthe same post as represented in Fig. l by the same letter, and with the same back langes,a. The

upper chord-pin is shown at p', and B' B arepart of a bridge-chord, is here lettered A', and

the back lian ge is marked a'. The two are connected by a loll gitudiu al web, b', as already described in connection with the post, but which may terminate a little short ofthe chordpin, or may extend continuously along', with a hole through the same for the chord-pin5 and, as the upper end of the post extends up into the upper chord, it is obvious that in such case the lower channel-bar, A', must end at the post. To make up for the decrease of strength thus occasioned in the upper chord, I rivet to each side ot' it the re-enforcing or splice plate P, and also, by means ot' .the latter, provide hearings for the upper chord-pin. The upper channel-bar, A', ot' this chord may be spliced or made continuous, as maybe preferred or found necessary or desirable. The chords` 4thus constructed extend from post to post through the bridge. Diagonal ties are added in any desired number or order from 011e chord to the other, and the usual cross-diagonals n a are also provided. In order to provide end supports to the latter, as well as for a crossstrut, It, I rivet to the upper edge ot' the outer side of the chord a short channel-piece, c', and support on it the gib-block fi', through which the cross-diagonals n a pass.

The lateral or cross strut It consists of an I-beam secured at its ends to the top of the chord by plates l" 9^', the upper plate, r, being riveted at one end to the upper flanges of the I-beam R and at its other end to the upper flange of the short ch annel-piece i. The lower plate, r', is riveted to the lower flanges of the I-beam It, abuts at one end against the back face of the channel-piece i, and at its other end is riveted to the lower flanges of the I-beam IOO IIO

It, abuts at one end against the back face of 1r 5 supported on blocks which rest on the upper.

channel-bar of the chord, midway between its opposite edges, or in a plane midway between the bearings ot' the chord-pin, or so near that point as to give practically the result indicated.

Vith the explanation thus given mechanics skilled in the art of bridge-building will have no ditcult y in utilizing the improved channelbar described in the making of compression or supporting members of such structures generally, whether vertical, inclined, or horizontal, and whether known by the name of posts, columns, struts, girders, 85o., and, in so far as such channel-bars provided with a back Han ge are useful for architectural or structural purposes generally, they are included herein as within the scope of my invention.

The improved bridgeiron described, consisting of a bar or plate having` a Bange on each edge of one side and a back ange or rib on the opposite or back side, about midway between the edges, and made solid therewith, while presenting, as is believed, novelty of form and construction, has the advantages of giving a double line of connections on one side and a single intermediate line of connection on the other side, without either the work or weakening efect of punching and riveting for attaching a back tlange or rib.

The particular features ot' construction by which the combinations described are or may be applied in the construction of deck-bridges are not claimed herein, but are reserved for the subject-matter of a further application.

I claim herein as my invention- 1. A floor-beam connected with the web system of trusses by arigid riveted connection in or near a plane midway between the bearingpoints ofthe main diagonal ties, substantially as set forth.

2. In a Hoor-beam and post connection of bridges, the combination of bars c c, plates C, 3 5

4. As an improved element for bridge and 45 other structures, the channel-barv A, having back flange, a, made as a part thereof and at or about midway between the edges of the back face, substantially as set forth.

5. In the structure of compression members 5o of bridges and other structures, channel-bars A or A', having each a back Hange, ct or a', made as a part thereof, in combination with plate b or b riveted thereto, substantially as set forth.

5 In a bridge-chord, the combination of channel-bars A', having each a back ange, a', plate b', and re-enforce or splice plate P, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my 6o hand.

ABRAHAM GOTTLIEB.

Witnesses:

R. H. WHITLESEY, C. L. PARKER.. 

